The school expects to save more than $90,000 a year on its energy bill and generate additional income by selling solar energy certificates to energy suppliers, if officials move forward with plans to build 1,694 solar panels on 2 acres north of the school.

Pohatcong Mayor James Kern III said the school is essentially "using taxpayer money to gamble on the market" by spending $1 million on the panels and expecting to profit off the sale of the energy certificates.

“Just because you have the money, it doesn’t mean you have to spend it,” Kern said.

He said the project is a good idea, but it’s too late.

Council and residents who spoke during tonight's meeting were skeptical the school would see the profits the consultant said it would receive from the sale of the certificates.

Pohatcong attorney Kevin Benbrook said the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities passed new metering regulations that restrict the size of municipal solar projects to meet only the municipality’s needs, limiting the profits.

Former Councilman Kevin Snyder spoke out against the board's formal opposition to the project. He said it was unfair for council to vote on the school’s affairs without someone from the school present. His wife, Stephanie Snyder, serves on the Pohatcong Township Elementary school board.

Snyder pointed out that profits from energy certificates wouldn't be the only benefit.

“They were going to have substantial savings from the system itself,” he said.

Councilman Frank Becker said he attended an earlier land use board meeting where school Superintendent Diane Mandry and an energy consultant discussed the solar panels. He questioned where the money came from and said residents have been paying too much in taxes in the past several years if the school can afford solar panels.

In the resolution, the mayor and council suggest the school should let the township residents decide by referendum if they want to spend $1 million on the project.